Seal for pumps



i Oct. l, 1935. G, A. WAHLMARK SEAL FOR PUMPS Filed Deo. 30, 1953 Patented @et li,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE j SEAL FOR PUMPS Gunnar A. Wahlmark, Rockford, Ill.

Application December 30, 1933, Serial No. 704,705

4 claims.

The invention relates generally to pumps and more particularly it relates to a mechanical seal construction which prevents leakage of fluids, either liquid or gaseous, along the projecting rotary drive shaft of the pump.

The prmary object of the invention` isto provide, in connection with the projecting rotary shaft of a pump or the like, a new and improved mechanical seal of simple construction.`

Another object is to provide a new and improved seal in which the take-up for wear is automatic so that no adjustment is necessary after it is once installed. i

Another object is to provide a mechanical seal effective sealing contact between the sealing members and thereby prolong the life of the seal n rings.

- Another object is to provide a new and improved mounting for the seal rings of such a mechanical seal. l

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection `with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken along the axis of a rotary pump embodying the features of the invention. t

Fig. 2 is-an enlarged portion of Fig. 1 showing the elements of the mechanical seal in central longitudinal section along the axis of the shaft.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention.

For purposes of disclosure the preferred `form of the invention, together with one alternative embodiment, is illustrated in theV drawing and spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims,

In the drawing the invention is illustrated as embodied in a pump wherein a horizontal pump shaft I0, rotatably mounted in a casing'II, is operatively connected at one end to rotary pumping mechanism housed within a pumping cham- 5 ber I2 in the casing, while its other end projects from the casing through a mechanical seal I3 which prevents leakage of iluids from the casing along the shaft. As shown herein the casingII comprises a main base casting I4 with an end 10 plate I5 secured `thereto by a plurality of screws I 6 to form,with the casting I4, the cylindrical pumping` chamber I2 into whichone end of the shaft I0 projects. Within the chamber I2 a driving member I8 is xed on the shaft I0 in l5 driving relation to an annular driven member I9 which runs on the eccentrically positioned internal surface of the pump chamber I2. To position the plate i5, an eccentric boss 20 extends a short distance from the base casting I4 into the 20 recess which forms the chamber I2 and a segment ZI projecting from the boss 20 into the crescent-shaped space between the member IB and the annular member I9 serves to divide said Aspace into suction and pressure chambers (not 25 shown)` in a conventional manner. Between the pump chamber I2 and the mechanicalseal I3, the main base casting I4 is formed to provide an elongated bearing hub 22 for the shaft I0, which hub terminates within a 30 radially spaced tubular portion 23 of the casting i 4 in which the non-rotatable` elements of the mechanical seal I3 are mounted. The chamber 24 in the casing is preferably connected to either the pressure or the suction side of the pump by 35 conventional means not herein illustrated.

The pressure differential between the chamber 24 and atmosphere inuences in some respects the form and positioning of the elements of the seal I3, which in Figs 1 and 2 is illustrated in a form 40 which contemplates connection ofthe chamber 24 with thesuction side of the pump I2 so as to create a partial vacuum within the chamber 24.

Referring particularly to Fig..2 of the drawing, the seal I3 comprises abushing 25 fixed to and 45 rotatable with the shaft I0 and engaged in an endwise direction by a non-rotatable seal ring 26 supported by a exible diaphragm 21, the outer edge of whichis clamped in a shouldered recess 28 in the end of the sleeve 23 by means of 50 a nut 29. An expansive coil spring 30 acts between the nut 29 and the ring 26 to press the ring axially and maintain constant Contact between an annular lapped face 3l on the ring 26 and the adjacent annular end surface on the bushing 25; 55

To prevent leakage of fluids, either liquid or gaseous, between the bushing 25 and the shaft I0, the bushing is preferably formed from relatively soft metal with a tapered outer surface 32 along .vhich an internally tapered ring 33 of stronger metal may be driven axially to distort the bushing inwardly into leak-proof relation to the shaft. In the form illustrated in Fig. 2, the bushing is proportioned so that the end opposite its lapped face 3| abuts theend of the hub 22, and the outer surface is therefore tapered so that the clamping ring 33 is driven toward the hub 22.

In accordance with the present invention the diaphragm 21 is constructed from an extremely flexible non-elastic material such as a cloth or textile fabric which is more or less limp as compared with diaphragms of metallic or semi-rigid materials, so that the material in itself does not materially resist movement or oscillation of the seal ring. Being of a non-metallic character, such a diaphragm is free from internal stresses which tend to cause failure when the diaphragm is distorted at various angles. The material employed for the diaphragm 21 is entirely a textile fabric devoid of any rubber and is neither elastic nor resilient. The fabric is, in fact, known as airplane cloth, impregnated and otherwise treated so as to be fluid-proof, and is of such a character asto resist the harmful actions of the various liquids or gases with which the device is to be used. The diaphragm is necessarily non-elastic because friction tends to rotate the seal ring 26 and `would thus distort an elastic diaphragm to a greater or lesser extent as the friction varied. This would cause oscillation of the seal ring 26 resulting in a chattering and breaking of the seal. An elastic material would also be attacked by oils and refrigerants. If desired, the fabric may be relatively thin, and a plurality of laminations thereof employed to form the diaphragm as in the embodiment illustrated.

`The fabric ofthe diaphragm is centrally apertured to conform with the inner diameter of the seal ring 26, and is secured at its inner edge to the ring 26 in leak-proof relation by means such as a clamping bushing 34. The bushing 34 as shown herein has a ange 35 which is positioned between the diaphragm and the spring 3U, with a tubular portion 36 which extends through the seal ring 26 in spaced relation to the shaft i0, and is interlocked with the ring 28 asby outward bending or riveting at 31 to hold the ange 35 and the ring 26 firmly clamped to the fabric of the diaphragm. In the flange 36, an annular recess 36 is formed which corresponds with a similar recess 39 in the nut 23 and serves with said recess 39 to maintain the spring 30 in position.

At its outer peripheral edge, the diaphragm 21 is preferably provided with a clamping and stiffening ring 46 comprising an internally facing annular channel formed from relatively soft metal, for example copper, and compressed upon the laminations of the fabric so as to hold the same together. The ring 40 serves ina measure to stiffen the outer edge of the diaphragm and to maintain the form of the diaphragm prior to and during its mounting in the shouldered recess 26, and in addition, the ring 40 acts as a gasket to prevent rupture of the diaphragm as the nut 26 is tightened.

The alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing contemplates the connection of the chamber 24 with the pressure side of the pump I2, and the positions of the various elements of the seal i3 are therefore reversed so that the pressure differential tends to augment rather than oppose the action of the spring 30. Thus the seal ring assembly is reversed so that the lapped face 3| of the seal ring 26 faces outwardly of the casing, and the spring 30 acts between the clamping ange 34 and the hub 22. A bushing 4|, generally similar to the bushing 26 is employed, having a lapped face opposing the adjacent face 3i of the seal ring 26, and with an outer surface 42` tapered so that clamping ring 43 may be driven along the surface toward `the hub 22 to clamp the bushing in leak-proof relation to the shaft l0. A nut 44, also of a form similar to that used in the embodiment of Fig. 2, serves to clamp the outer edge of the diaphragm 21, the nut having a relatively large internal recess 45 to house the bushing 4| and its clamping ring 43.

The construction herein described has been found in practice to possess qualities of durability 20 and wear resistance heretofore unattainable, due in a large measure to the extreme flexibility of the diaphragm and the light spring pressure required in connection therewith to maintain the sealing surfaces in effective contact. With such 25 a light pressure between the seal ring and the f opposed bushing, the wear is correspondingly reduced. The extreme flexibility, and the nonmetallic and non-crystallizing character of the fabric diaphragm enables the seal ring to oscil- 30 late and shift to conform to the initial or worn condition of the opposed friction surfaces without danger of premature failure of the diaphragm. The seal is thus self alining and takes up automaticallyl I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine having an apertured casing and a rotary shaft Aprojecting through saidv aperture, the combination of a mechanical seal between said shaft and said casing comprising an exteriorly tapering bushing formed from krelatively soft metal and encircling said shaft, a clamping ring forced endwise along said tapered surface of the bushing to iix the same to the shaft and prevent leakage of fluid between the shaft 45 and the bushing, a seal ring encircling the shaft in spaced relation thereto and adapted for annular flat surface contact with said bushing in an endwise direction. an annular flexible diaphragm of impregnated fluid-proof fabric. a bushing for securing the inner edge of said diaphragm in leak-proof relation to said seal ring having a radial flange adapted to be disposed on one side of the diaphragm and a tubular portion extending through the diaphragm and the seal ring and securing the seal ring on the opposite side of the diaphragm to clamp the same therebetween, a spring urging the seal ring into contact with the bushing secured to the shaft, an annular ring encircling and clamped to the outer circumference of the diaphragm to maintain the same flat before installation, and means for securing the outer circumference of the diaphragm in the casing.

2. In a machine having an apertured casing and af rotary shaft projecting through said aperture, the combination of a mechanical seal between said shaft and said casing comprising a bushing fixed about and rotatable with the shaft and fitted to the shaft to prevent leakage or 'I0 fluid therebetween, a seal ring encircling the shaft in spaced relation thereto and adapted for annular surface contact with said bushingin endwise direction, an annular flexible diaphragm of impregnated fluid-proof fabric, a bushing hav- 'I6 aoxsmo ing a tubular portion extending through said diaphragm and into engagement with said seal ring and a radial flange disposed on the side o! said diaphragm opposite said seal ring to clamp the diaphragm therebetween in leak-proof relation, a spring urging said seal ring into engagement with the bushing on the shaft, means for securing the outer periphery of the diaphragm in the casing in leak-prooi relation and means clamped onto the outer periphery oi the diaphragm to stillen the same and to form a gasket protecting the diaphragm against injury by the means securing the same in the casing.

3. An assembly unit for a mechanical seal, said unit comprising a seal ring, a relatively limp fluidproof fabric diaphragm of annular form secured along one edge to said ring in leak-prooi relation, and an annular soit metal member clamped over the outer periphery of the diaphragm to maintain said diaphragm in a relatively flat form prior to installation and to protect the diaphragm zum www.

4. An assembly unit ior a mechanical seal ring, said unit comprising a seal ring, a centrally apertured diaphragm formed from a plurality of laminations of ilexible iiuid-proof fabric, a bushing having a tubular portion extending through the central aperture oi the diaphragm clamping the inner edges of the laminations together and securing the same to the seal ring in leak-proof relation and an annular-device extending over the outer periphery oi said diaphragm to clamp the outer edges of the laminations together before installation and to protect the diaphragm against injury.

GUNNAR A. WAHLMARK. 

